第１５１３堀：粉ものは意外と腹に溜まる (Part2)
Yuki hands us the menu without a care, asking which yakisoba we’d like. Does he really intend to keep eating?
That is the thought running through my mind, and Eris’s as well.
"It’s fine. I’m active, you know? You two are more of the desk-bound type, aren't you?"
"Ah, well, I suppose that’s true."
"When you put it that way, I guess you're right..."
We don’t exactly incorporate training into our daily work routine.
Of course, we train to protect Yuki, but it’s not something we can do constantly. Maybe three or four days out of every ten, at most.
While we ponder this, we settle on the seafood yakisoba and continue our conversation while we wait.
"So, to get back to the topic—is the location of this treasure within the Vinoshia territory?"
"Likely... yes. Though, to be honest, I do not know the exact location myself."
"Well, I suppose that’s to be expected. If you knew, Vinoshia would have seized and utilized it long ago."
"That is correct. If they had known the whereabouts of the funds and were able to recover them under those circumstances, they would have been gone already."
"Canaria, do you know why Vinoshia fell?"
"Yes. Or rather... from what I have observed, I believe the primary cause was the nation’s profligacy. The national treasury was empty, and to compensate, they borrowed what they lacked from other nations, and eventually resorted to squeezing taxes from the populace. This naturally invited backlash not only from the vassals but from the common people as well."
Oh? She has a surprisingly firm grasp of the situation.
I’ve looked into that country myself, ever since a former princess appeared at an auction.
My conclusion was that it was truly a hopeless nation.
The upper echelons forced unreasonable burdens onto those below them for the sake of their own luxury, and the resulting resentment grew too strong.
If that coercion had been for the sake of the country’s development, it might have been a different story, but...
Well, there are few countries that have the luxury for such things.
It isn't limited to that country; there are people being squeezed by those in power everywhere.
It serves as a warning to us, too—if we make one wrong move, we could easily end up just like them, draining the people of Weed of their money and running wild with our own desires.
I hope the children, like Schans, truly understand the meaning behind this.
That the nation of Weed exists only because of the people who live here.
"The situation as we’ve heard it matches yours. Well, the 'why' behind their actions isn't the issue right now. There’s no point in dwelling on it since we can’t change it. If you consider it a stain on your name, that’s a long battle to fight, and if it isn't truly a stain, we can’t help you with that."
With the country now destroyed, the reputation of the former Vinoshia royal family is at rock bottom.
Trying to overturn that reputation would require an endless amount of labor.
Weed doesn't have the spare resources to lend a hand in something like that.
As for Canaria’s reaction to Yuki’s blunt words:
"Yes. That goes without saying. All I can do now is provide information to you, Yuki-sama, and to you, Seraria-sama. I am deeply grateful for your consideration."
Hmm, it seems she has no intention of trying to reclaim the nation’s name either.
However...
"Canaria, your mouth is dirty. Let me wipe it."
"Thank you, Ria-sama."
That’s not the kind of dialogue you expect while having okonomiyaki sauce wiped off your face by Ria, is it?
Is this just what it means to be royalty?
Seraria and Lowel have had their moments like that, too.
"Is something the matter?"
"What is it?"
"No, nothing at all."
We receive questions from the two who noticed the rabbit-kin's gaze, but we brush them off lightly.
If we were to say what we were really thinking, it would only lead to a fight.
"For our part, there’s no point in forcing you to cooperate only to be fed lies. It’s only natural to show some consideration."
"I see. That is rational. However, since I have been treated to such delicious food, I shall not hold back in my cooperation. My father, mother, and younger brother always spoke of 'delicious food,' yet it never reached this far."
"I see. Now, back to the topic—the specific location of the treasure, or the secret treasure..."
"Ah, my apologies. I do not know the details, but I have heard that the secret treasure lies within a cave located in a mountain held by Vinoshia."
A cave in a mountain, you say.
Under normal circumstances, that would be a romantic adventure... but for us?
" " "Suspicious." " "
We have no choice but to say it.
A cave—that’s just another word for a dungeon.
Whether it’s okonomiyaki or takakoyaki, you can’t really eat that much of it, can you?
Two or three pieces is about the limit.